Top takeaways from the Softcat Partner Forum and Sustainability Symposium

Earlier this month, more than 75 partners and customers attended Softcat’s Partner Forum at CodeNode, London, for an afternoon of strategy sharing, market analysis, networking and recognition.

Softcat continues to demonstrate its passion and commitment to sustainability and this event was testament to that.

Below are some key headline messages from the event:

Environmental ergonomics and economics

Business transformation director Alastair Wynn coined a new term at the event – environmental ergonomics and economics, and in a world where everyone is grappling with demands over sustainability, data, AI and cyber, Wynn challenged the audience, asking if people had the right balance of focus, investment and creativity when tacking these topics. He highlighted the importance of thinking about ergonomics and economics in thinking about these areas to ensure long term success.

Bridging the data gap with trust and transparency

Wynn highlighted the gaps that exist with data; product data, supply chain data, and emissions data. He closed the first session with a question to the audience… how would you score if a trust rating were to be implemented, measuring data accuracy and availability across ESG, AI and cyber? Gaps exist, customers deserve data to drive choice, and we must tackle these gaps, together.

Science-based carbon reduction targets are key

With 37 per cent of customers listing climate change as a pressing issue for the coming year (according to Deloitte), Wynn said Softcat is increasing pressure on its suppliers and partners to sign up to Science-based targets (SBTi).

“We need to make sure that every single partner that we operate with have the same commitment to net zero targets,” he said. “If they don’t, it may swing decisions that are made further down the line.”

The circular economy needs more focus

Wynn said the circular economy went backwards in 2023 (vs 2019 figures) and is something that the IT industry as-a-whole, is struggling to unlock. One in nine smartphones sold in EMEA in 2024 were used devices, but collectively the industry is ‘nowhere near’ that level when it comes to laptops, he said. In total there was 14 billion kg of e-waste across Europe alone, according to the Global eWaste Monitor report 2024, yet e-waste is the world’ fastest growing and most valuable domestic waste stream. Windows 11 upgrades bring new levels of demand and opportunity, and the channel must include circular in its thinking.

ESG regulations are a primary driver for sustainability

On the ‘G’ side of ESG, the growing number of regulations and directives – particularly CSRD, which will affect many channel companies from next year onwards – means firms in the channel ecosystem need to start embracing these regulations if they haven’t already, and ensure they are up to speed on all legislation.

DEI is going through a tough time

Anushka Davies, head of employee engagement, diversity and inclusion at Softcat, said it was a ‘strange place’ to be at the moment, with research suggesting that funding is being taken away. Within Softcat, and as CEO Graham Charlton alluded to in his keynote on the day, people are everything, with the firm’s social strategy centred around health and wellbeing, community and charity, offering accessible jobs via outreach efforts, helping employees evolve their skills, equal opportunities for all, and constant development of the workforce.

“I’m lucky that I have a leadership team and a board who back all the work we do and want to make sure we have happy employees,” Davies said. “I know this is challenging for some of our partners at the moment.”

Join industry bodies that support DEI

Davies championed two key organisations – Tech Channel Ambassadors, whose mission it is to reach school age children and give them insight into the fantastic opportunities available through employment in the IT channel, and The Technology Community for Racial Equality (TC4RE), an organisation that offers support, advice and training to companies on how to drive real equality and transformation.

The tech industry is falling behind on social mobility

The first panel discussion of the day, hosted by Polly Jacob (senior engagement advisor at Softcat) revealed how fewer than one in ten workers in the tech sector come from working class backgrounds, which is lower than law or banking. Sarah Atkinson from the Social Mobility Foundation said businesses that focus on social mobility perform 1.4 times better than ones that don’t. Martin Mason from TalentMapper said businesses are currently seeing more churn because employees don’t feel properly supported by their senior management teams.

End user customers want suppliers that care about sustainability

On the second panel of the day, hosted by John Gladstone, Softcat’s sustainability lead; five customers discussed their concerns about the planet and the impact their businesses were having on the environment, and said that inaction and standing by doing nothing was not an option. Everyone has a duty to do something and make a difference. Supplier management, measurement, collaboration and creativity can influence decisions and outcomes for us all.

Mother Nature

The customer panel concluded with a showing of a powerful video that was also referenced by a customer on the panel. This compelling and emotive video from Conservation International about mother nature, is voiced by Hollywood star Julia Roberts, and her last line is the perfect way to end this roundup. “One way or the other, your actions will determine your fate, not mine. I am Nature. I will go on. I am prepared to evolve. Are you?”

If this summary piqued your interest in all things sustainability please join CRN, Softcat and many more channel partners and evangelists at our next Sustainability in Tech event at BAFTA, London on Thursday 13th February. For more information and to book your place, please visit the website here.